Nitro or poly?

[WI Short Scaler]

I know Keith Richards once famously said something about your guitar not being all shiny like it had just been purchased that morning but that's what I like.

Poly for me, every time, if given the choice.

 

[40Hz]

I like the look and feel of nitro more. Especially when it's a satin finish. It's also easier to repair than poly is IMO. But poly is definitely more practical if you're roading an instrument a lot and want it to keep looking fairly new.

 

[bassdude51]

NOTE: I didn't ask which sounds better. I simply asked which you prefer and why.

I stand corrected but I was sub commenting on Acoop post and not directly to your thread. Ahhh, that's how TalkBass works. We go and/or we get on tangents.

Read #117 My direct comment to your thread.

Nice to meet you!

 

[SJan3]

I stand corrected but I was sub commenting on Acoop post and not directly to your thread. Ahhh, that's how TalkBass works. We go and/or we get on tangents.

Read #117 My direct comment to your thread.

Nice to meet you!

That's ok! Your reasons may be sound related. Many feel the same.
P.S. nice to meet you too!

 

[fretno]

Personally I don't care that much but I do like both. I've had instruments refin'd and it never affected the tone imo. I prefer nitro for a more vintage look on a Fender or Gibson and like the way it ages on those instruments . But I like the look of poly finishes too or whatever Pat Wilkins uses or Marty Bell . So as long as it looks good to me I like it .

Bell

Wilkins

Pittman

Gibson

 

[jblock]

I would have said poly only a few months ago, but I have a Fender P with a nitro finish and haven't had any issues at all.

 

[SJan3]

Personally I don't care that much but I do like both. I've had instruments refin'd and it never affected the tone imo. I prefer nitro for a more vintage look on a Fender or Gibson and like the way it ages on those instruments . But I like the look of poly finishes too or whatever Pat Wilkins uses or Marty Bell . So as long as it looks good to me I like it .
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Bell

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Wilkins

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Pittman

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Gibson

That blue sparkle is stunning!!

 

[fretno]

That blue sparkle is stunning!!

Thanks , yes he did a beautiful job on that one .

 

[SJan3]

Thanks , yes he did a beautiful job on that one .
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Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Fresh Eddie]

I have one old nitro bass and it is really sticky, so I voted for poly. All of my poly basses are still in great shape despite age and the amount I have played them.

 

[fretno]

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

You bet . Marty is still in the game so y'all need to send your bodies to him but in the near future +/- he will retire . His prices are very fair and his turn around time is crazy fast .

 

[Sponson Thrisby]

I have a guitar done in old-school nitro. For the first month it smelled great (probably toxic, but what can ya do). But the main thing is that it feels different to touch. Somehow more 'organic' and natural -warmer and less plasticy. Likely due to the thinner coating.
To protect it from wear I shine it up with some good carnauba car wax when I change strings.

 

[Grinderman]

Thanks , yes he did a beautiful job on that one .
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That pickguard (silver anodized aluminum?) really ties the bass together.

 

[fretno]

Yes , I agree .. I put a gold on there for a second and it was not right at all lol .

 

[Grinderman]

Urethane by Marty Bell

Lacquer by Nash

Lacquer by me

 

[fretno]

Beauties !

 

[fretno]

That pickguard (silver anodized aluminum?) really ties the bass together.

I got that from here . MIC but very high quality . I think I paid for DHL which bumped it up to $50 something and I had it in 2 days .
Metal Aluminum Anodized Pickguard,fits American Standard P B

 

[40Hz]

Personally I don't care that much but I do like both. I've had instruments refin'd and it never affected the tone imo. I prefer nitro for a more vintage look on a Fender or Gibson and like the way it ages on those instruments . But I like the look of poly finishes too or whatever Pat Wilkins uses or Marty Bell . So as long as it looks good to me I like it .

Love those hairline cracks. I had a 60s white Mustang that had those. One of the coolest 'happy accident' looks you'll ever see IMO.

 

[fretno]

Love those hairline cracks. I had a 60s white Mustang that had those. One of the coolest 'happy accident' looks you'll ever see IMO.

it's what I love about nitro , while hated by the finishers back in the day and hated today by the relic haters I love it !

Those are Pittman's R.I.P. Paul

 

[dspellman]

Nitro all day. I like the breathing idea about drying out the wood over time and how light the finish feels. The poly finish feels like...plastic.

Good to see that the old myths and silliness are still alive long after they've been proven wrong decades ago.